2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 18
Houston Dynamo vs. Nashville SC
BBVA Stadium – Houston
October 14 – 8:00 PM ET
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada
LOCAL TV: QuestTEXAS Ch. 55, MyTV30
The Houston Dynamo are looking to rebound from a Week 17 defeat when they host a Nashville SC side looking to climb back above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference in the second all-time meeting Wednesday night at BBVA Stadium.
The Dynamo (4W-6L-7D) are just below the playoff line in the West following a 1-0 loss at Inter Miami CF Saturday, while Nashville SC (4W-6L-6D) are hoping to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City.
The teams played to a 1-1 draw at Nissan Stadium last month in the first ever meeting between the teams. Darwin Quintero set up Maynor Figueroa's late equalizer after Daniel Rios put the hosts in front in the 49th minute.
Houston Dynamo
The Dynamo were sluggish on attack early and were bailed out numerous times by Marko Maric, who eventually conceded through Lewis Morgan's penalty kick in a 1-0 defeat to Inter Miami CF Saturday.
"We lacked. At the end of the day, we have to perform like we performed in the last 20 minutes of the game," Tab Ramos said of his attack after the match. "We have to perform that way from minute one. I don’t want to react on getting scored on and then reacting. I’d like for the team to start attacking from the beginning. I’m okay with the fact that we’re known for being the team that gives up a goal because we attack too much in the counter. I’m okay with that – I’ll take responsibility for that, but I don’t like giving up balls only when we defend. To me, that doesn’t make sense.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Michael Salazar (F) - right knee injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Memo Rodriguez (M)
- International duty: None
Nashville SC
After shutouts in three of the last four games unbeaten, Nashville SC conceded twice in the second half and went down to 10 men when right back Alistair Johnston was sent off with a second yellow in the 54th minute in a 2-1 defeat to Sporting KC. That all came after Walker Zimmerman put the expansion side in front on 15 minutes.
On Monday, Nashville bolstered their goalkeeping depth by adding CJ Cochran on loan from USL Championship side Oklahoma City Energy FC for the rest of the MLS season. The 29-year-old has spent the entirety of his career in the lower leagues of American soccer, including the 2018 season with Nashville when they were in USL.
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Ken Tribbett (D) - calf injury
- OUT: David Accam (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Dom Badji (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Daniel Rios (F) - undisclosed injury
- Suspended: Alistair Johnston (D)
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Dynamo
- This is the second all-time meeting with the Houston Dynamo and Nashville SC playing to a 1-1 draw at Nissan Stadium Sept. 26.
Officials
- Referee: Nima Saghafi
- Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, Matthew Nelson
- 4th Official: David Gantar
- VAR: Rosendo Mendoza
